READY: May 13, 2010

Today's Passage: Genesis 25, NIV

What ladies can learn: A lot happens in this passage. Abraham takes a new wife, and they have lots of kids. We see Hagar mentioned again, and hear about Ishmael's kids. Issac prays for Rebekah and she has kids.

I want you to notice two things in this chapter. First, notice that God sees childbearing as a blessing. God rules the world. God wants us to take care of the world. And He still sees childbearing as a blessing! Our culture gives us so many reasons to limit the number of kids in every family, but that's not something that's really our decision--it's God's. So, if/when you get married, don't see having kids as a burden--see it as a blessing.

The other thing I want you to notice is that Issac prayed for Rebekah to have children. No doubt they were both discouraged while Rebekah was barren, but I would guess that Rebekah was the more discouraged. Nevertheless, Issac didn't say "Women are the ones who get pregnant, so it's your job to pray and un-barren yourself." No! Issac prayed for Rebekah. They shared the trial, and they shared the blessings.

Highlighted characteristic of God: God knows everyone's name. That may seem trivial, but think about it: the Creator of the universe, who created galaxies and worlds with little effort, and who has billions of people in His care, takes the time to know your name and care about you. Wow! That makes me think of Psalms 8:3-4, NCV: "I look at your heavens, which you made with your fingers. I see the moon and stars, which you created. But why are people even important to you? Why do you take care of human beings?"
In two words: God cares.

Highlighted characteristic for us: Have faith! God answers prayer. Issac and Rebekah prayed for God to give them a child, and He gave them two. What has God placed on your heart to pray for?
In three words: Pray and believe.

READY: May 12, 2010

Today's Passage: Genesis 24, NIV

What ladies can learn: What a love story! God clearly destined Rebekah and Issac for each other. We can see from Rebekah's actions that she was kind and generous, and that she trusted God. Let's try to do the same.

Highlighted characteristic of God: Maybe Rebekah sometimes felt at a loss. After all, she was getting older, and she still hadn't found a husband! She probably watched her friends get married, and maybe she even had sisters who were happily married. Nevertheless, God knew that He had the perfect husband waiting for Rebekah, and He brought the couple together in His timing.
In two words: God plans.

Highlighted characteristic for us: God's got it all together--so let's trust His plan for the future and focus on serving Him in this moment.
In three words: Trust God's plan.

READY: May 10, 2010

Today's Passage: Genesis 23, NIV

What ladies can learn: Abraham took care to find a place of respect and value to bury Sarah. Women in the Bible weren't discounted! I don't know if Sarah ever felt underappreciated, but I'm going to guess that she did at some point in her life. What can we learn? Often, people care more about us than we realize.

Highlighted characteristic of God: You might not see God in this passage at first glance. Look again. James 1:17 (NIV) says "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights." I would call Sarah's tomb a good and perfect gift, wouldn't you? Not only that, God worked it out that Abraham received the tomb for free. How awesome is that? Just because we can't see God or hear an audible voice doesn't mean He isn't there.
In two words: God provides.

Highlighted characteristic for us: The Bible tells us that Abraham's witnesses were the Hittites. Now, if you believe that the Bible is the whole truth, then you'd believe that Hittites existed whether or not archeology proved their existence (since the Bible is true, accurate science can be trusted to support the Bible).
There was a time that no one believed Hittites existed. People thought that there was no evidence for the existence of the Hittites. Well, of course, I'm sure you know now that the Hittites have been proven to exist--we even study them in our history books! The Bible is always right, even if people haven't found "proof" for everything in it.
In three words: Trust God's word.

READY: May 8, 2010

Today's Passage: Genesis 21, NIV
What ladies can learn: Hagar is a Biblical example of a single mom. Though her situation differs from that of today's single moms, we can still learn from her example. You see, God understands that guys can be irresponsible leaders. Abraham not only fathered Hagar's child, sent her away, let her come back, and then sent her away again, but also sent Hagar away with too little water to journey to another town. Even though Abraham was irresponsible, God's plan for Hagar wasn't messed up in the slightest! God realizes that some things can come into a life or a relationship that interfere with marriage. Nevertheless, God is still a loving God who watches over each and every one of us: He's leading us, protecting us, giving us what we need to live (and then some), and giving us a future, no matter what our marital status. Yes, let's try to live by God's original plans (unless God speaks to you otherwise)--but if things happen to disrupt our hopes or dreams, let's trust that God has something better in store.

Highlighted characteristic of God: God watches over every person, and He can provide for us.
In two words: God sees.

Highlighted characteristic for us: Take a look at Hagar's life. She lives as a slave, toiling away in the ancient world as a nobody. She has a baby by Abraham at Sarah's request (she must feel pretty used). Sarah gets jealous and sends Hagar away. When Hagar returns, she lives as Sarah's slave for a few more years...and gets sent away again, this time by her son's father Abraham. Enslaved. Used. Rejected...twice. Ouch.

Sometimes, we may feel that we're used the same way by our peers. Maybe we aren't enslaved, and maybe we don't go through the extremes Hagar experienced, but we can be used and rejected all the same. When that happens, we can know that God is still watching over us and that He still has a perfect plan for us.
In three words: God's our friend.

READY: May 7, 2010

Today's Passage: Genesis 20, NIV

What ladies can learn: Abraham and Sarah do it again! This time, though, when they lie, Sarah has to be sure of the consequences. There can be no doubt in her mind that God, her ultimate authority, is more important than her husband; there can be no doubt in her mind that God does not approve lying. She lies anyway, and what happens? This time, the Bible pins the offense on Sarah more so than the other times she's lied.
When we know that we have a choice to either obey God or to obey authority--but not both--we should always obey God first.

Highlighted characteristic of God: God is forgiving. Even when we make the same mistake twice (or thrice), He's willing to forgive.
In two words: God forgives.

Highlighted characteristic for us: First, a half-truth is a whole lie...second, if authorities tell you to disobey God's clear words, obey God.
In three words: Obey only God.

READY: May 6, 2010

Today's Passage: Genesis 18, NIV

What ladies can learn: Notice in this passage the role of Sarah in welcoming the guests. Abraham was able to simply tell her "Make some bread," and she did it. Because she made the bread, Abraham was freed up to cook some meat for the visitors. They worked as a team. Sarah was just as important as Abraham, but Abraham was willing to lead and Sarah was willing to follow. As a result of their acceptance of their Biblical roles, their teamwork was smooth and effortless.

Please don't misunderstand this to mean that men are slavemasters of women--that is most definitely not God's will. 1 Peter 3:1-8 uses Abraham and Sarah as an example of Biblical marriage, but at the same time emphasizes the necessity of gentleness and respect on the part of the husband (those are two qualities of a good leader anyway):

¹Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, ²when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. ³Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. ⁴Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. ⁵For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, ⁶like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

⁷Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Suffering for Doing Good

⁸Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

Highlighted characteristic of God: God shows many of His characteristics in this chapter, so we'll examine a few of them. First of all, God is all-powerful: He was able to promise Abraham and Sarah a child, even though they were too old to have children. Second, God is the giver of everything we have. From chairs and tables to shelter, children, and even life--God gives it all. Third, God knows everything! We may see this as obvious; after all, He's God, right? Nevertheless, like Sarah, we sometimes try to trick God into thinking we aren't laughing in unbelief (or we aren't angry with Him, or we aren't disappointed, or we aren't glad about something we shouldn't be glad about). God knows it all. He sees right through our disguise. God's all-knowing nature leads us to another point: God is holy and just, and He punishes bad people. God said that He had heard an outcry about Sodom and Gomorrah; though we can't be positive where this cry had come from, I like to think that it was peoples' prayers for help. As we read more about the character of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, you'll see that these two cities were filled with creeps and criminals--and that the cities' governments weren't protecting the citizens. As a result, God decided to visit the city and to step in on behalf of the people in need.
In two words? Wow, what a tough summary. I'll put it this way: God gives. Why? God gives miracles, God gives us everything we have, God gives knowledge, and God gives justice.

Highlighted characteristic for us: God hears a humble prayer. Notice Abraham's words: "I am nothing but dust and ashes" (verse 27). Abraham knew his place. Abraham knew that God was infinitely higher than him. But Abraham prayed--humbly--and God granted his requests.

Also, sometimes we treat God like a genie who only grants three wishes. We pray, and God answers us. We pray again, and God answers again. We pray again, and God answers again. And then we think, "Wow, God just answered three requests! I've gotta be pushing my limits here. I'll stop asking for awhile." That's exactly what the enemy wants us to think--that we should stop praying. Prayer is powerful. God tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to "pray continually" (and that's the entire verse). God wants us to keep praying to Him. Abraham asked God to change His mind six times! We, too, can approach God with requests (and praises).

In three words: Pray without limit.

READY: May 5, 2010

Today's Passage: Genesis 17, NIV
What ladies can learn: Just because God puts men as leaders doesn't mean God forgets women. God gave Sari, Abram's wife, a new name and many blessings--just like he gave Abram. Women are important, too.
Highlighted characteristic of God: God can do anything.
In two words: God does.
Highlighted characteristic for us: We need to believe that God will do what He says--because He does.
In three words: We can believe.

READY: April 23, 2010

Today's Passage: Genesis 16, NIV

What ladies can learn: Girls can be mean. God knows. God is with us through every trial, every time we feel betrayed or hurt or alone because of other girls' mean actions and mean words.

Highlighted characteristic of God: God cares about everyone. God knows everyone by name, He knows everyone's past, and He knows everyone's future.
In two words: God knows.

Highlighted characteristic for us: God's will is accomplished through His methods, and we need to have faith in Him. Before making any big decisions about how we're going to "make His will possible," we need to ask if those decisions are in His plan at all...if they aren't, then we won't be helping Him at all by making those decisions.
In three words: Trust God's methods.

READY: April 20, 2010

Today's Passage: Genesis 1, NIV, courtesy of BibleGateway.com
What ladies can learn: Okay, I know--we read Genesis 2 first and then Genesis 1. There's a reason that we read the chapters out of order: Genesis 2 details the creation of woman, while Genesis 1 tells about God's first command for Eve (and ladies in general). So, technically, we're going in chronological order.

So, what is the first command recorded in the Bible? Verse 28: "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'" (emphasis mine)

This is a command given to both man and woman. As we learned yesterday, woman's job is to help man. Now we know specifically what man needs help with: increasing in number, filling the earth, subduing the earth, and ruling over the creatures of the earth.

There's a lot of ground to cover here, but I'm going to try to do it simply and briefly.

First, God gave this command to both man and woman. Eve's role in filling this command was just as important and necessary as Adam's role. As we saw before, however, Adam was to be the leader in deciding how to carry out this command, while Eve might help with anything from suggesting things to helping carry out the plan.

Second, God gave the task of "filling the earth" to both man and woman. It's not the woman's job to raise a child--it's both parents' jobs. In fact, the husband, as the head of the family, once again, has the important position of "leader" in this area.

Third, women help men rule. Men can't "subdue the earth" by themselves. They need their wives' help. The role of the wife, remember, is that of a necessary, indispensable helper, but not a primary conqueror.

Finally, let me clarify that in all these areas, men are to be as involved as women. It's not man's job to sit around on the couch planning things as a leader, and it's not woman's job to slave around doing whatever her husband tells her to. The best leaders are active! The best leaders participate in carrying out their plans just as much as the followers participate in carrying out the plans.

Highlighted characteristic of God: God has awesome, amazing power beyond our comprehension.
In two words: God created.

Highlighted characteristic for us: We are living in a beautiful world that God shaped with His own hands. Let's savor every minute of our time here.
In three words: Notice God's creation.

READY: April 6, 2010

Today's passage: Mark 4, NCV, courtesy of BibleGateway.org

Highlighted characteristic of God: God is willing to share His love with those who will stay growing strong in Him (the subjects of His kingdom, if you will). God's kingdom is always growing, even if we don't always see it. God, like a true Divine regent, has power beyond what we could imagine--and He's willing to use that power to help us, if we ask and if it's His will.
In two words--God rules.

Highlighted characteristic for us: We can read the Bible all we want, but if the Holy Spirit isn't explaining it to us, we won't truly get the full meaning and the full benefits...but that's why it's important to ask God questions about what He means by His words and how He's working in our lives.
In three words--Listen to understand.

Mark 4 (New Century Version)

A Story About Planting Seed

¹ Again Jesus began teaching by the lake. A great crowd gathered around him, so he sat down in a boat near the shore. All the people stayed on the shore close to the water. ² Jesus taught them many things, using stories. He said, ³ "Listen! A farmer went out to plant his seed.⁴ While he was planting, some seed fell by the road, and the birds came and ate it up.⁵ Some seed fell on rocky ground where there wasn't much dirt. That seed grew very fast, because the ground was not deep.⁶ But when the sun rose, the plants dried up because they did not have deep roots.⁷ Some other seed fell among thorny weeds, which grew and choked the good plants. So those plants did not produce a crop. ⁸ Some other seed fell on good ground and began to grow. It got taller and produced a crop. Some plants made thirty times more, some made sixty times more, and some made a hundred times more."

⁹ Then Jesus said, "Let those with ears use them and listen!"

Jesus Tells Why He Used Stories

¹⁰ Later, when Jesus was alone, the twelve apostles and others around him asked him about the stories.

¹¹ Jesus said, "You can know the secret about the kingdom of God. But to other people I tell everything by using stories ¹² so that:
'They will look and look, but they will not learn.
They will listen and listen, but they will not understand.
If they did learn and understand,
they would come back to me and be forgiven.' " — Isaiah 6:9–10

Jesus Explains the Seed Story

¹³ Then Jesus said to his followers, "Don't you understand this story? If you don't, how will you understand any story? ¹⁴ The farmer is like a person who plants God's message in people.¹⁵ Sometimes the teaching falls on the road. This is like the people who hear the teaching of God, but Satan quickly comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them.¹⁶ Others are like the seed planted on rocky ground. They hear the teaching and quickly accept it with joy.¹⁷ But since they don't allow the teaching to go deep into their lives, they keep it only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching they accepted, they quickly give up.¹⁸ Others are like the seed planted among the thorny weeds. They hear the teaching,¹⁹ but the worries of this life, the temptation of wealth, and many other evil desires keep the teaching from growing and producing fruit in their lives. ²⁰ Others are like the seed planted in the good ground. They hear the teaching and accept it. Then they grow and produce fruit—sometimes thirty times more, sometimes sixty times more, and sometimes a hundred times more."

Use What You Have

²¹ Then Jesus said to them, "Do you hide a lamp under a bowl or under a bed? No! You put the lamp on a lampstand. ²² Everything that is hidden will be made clear and every secret thing will be made known. ²³ Let those with ears use them and listen!

²⁴ "Think carefully about what you hear. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you, but God will give you even more. ²⁵ Those who have understanding will be given more. But those who do not have understanding, even what they have will be taken away from them."

Jesus Uses a Story About Seed

²⁶ Then Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is like someone who plants seed in the ground. ²⁷ Night and day, whether the person is asleep or awake, the seed still grows, but the person does not know how it grows.²⁸ By itself the earth produces grain. First the plant grows, then the head, and then all the grain in the head. ²⁹ When the grain is ready, the farmer cuts it, because this is the harvest time."

A Story About Mustard Seed

³⁰ Then Jesus said, "How can I show you what the kingdom of God is like? What story can I use to explain it? ³¹ The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, the smallest seed you plant in the ground. ³² But when planted, this seed grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants. It produces large branches, and the wild birds can make nests in its shade."

³³ Jesus used many stories like these to teach the crowd God's message—as much as they could understand.³⁴ He always used stories to teach them. But when he and his followers were alone, Jesus explained everything to them.

Jesus Calms a Storm

³⁵ That evening, Jesus said to his followers, "Let's go across the lake." ³⁶ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him in the boat just as he was. There were also other boats with them.³⁷ A very strong wind came up on the lake. The waves came over the sides and into the boat so that it was already full of water.³⁸ Jesus was at the back of the boat, sleeping with his head on a cushion. His followers woke him and said, "Teacher, don't you care that we are drowning!"

³⁹ Jesus stood up and commanded the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind stopped, and it became completely calm.

⁴⁰ Jesus said to his followers, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

⁴¹ The followers were very afraid and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"